Maritime Insecurity in Gulf of Guinea Threatens Vessel and Crew Safety – Nigerian Immigration Service Warns

 

 The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, warning that the safety of vessels, crew members, and regional trade is increasingly at risk.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Comptroller General of the NIS, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, stated that the persistent activities of pirates and armed criminal networks in Nigeria’s maritime domain pose “a grave national and economic threat” to the country and its neighbors.

“The Gulf of Guinea remains one of the world’s most dangerous waters for commercial vessels. Despite regional cooperation efforts, our maritime borders are under constant threat from pirates, traffickers, and armed gangs,” she said.

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The Immigration Service noted that these security challenges not only endanger lives but also discourage foreign investment in Nigeria’s blue economy. Crew abductions, hijackings, and illegal migration through coastal routes were listed as pressing concerns that demand urgent multi-agency collaboration.

Adepoju emphasized the need for heightened surveillance, smarter border control technologies, and stronger international partnerships, especially with neighboring coastal nations.

In response, maritime stakeholders are calling on the federal government to strengthen enforcement through the Deep Blue Project, increase naval patrols, and fully deploy maritime drones along vulnerable corridors.

Security analysts warn that if left unchecked, maritime insecurity could significantly disrupt oil exports, trade logistics, and Nigeria’s efforts to grow its ocean-based economy.

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